Kissing teacher unfit to work

ALLEGATIONS: HEARING ACCEPTS 13-YEAR-OLD'S VERSION

- Molefe Seeletsa

A primary school teacher in Mpumalanga has been dismissed after the Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC) found him guilty of misconduct involving a Grade 7 pupil.

The Mpumalanga department of education initiated disciplinary action against Andries Lodewick Lombaard, an English teacher at Laerskool Klipfontein in Emalahleni.

The matter was referred to the ELRC following allegations that he kissed a 13-year-old pupil on two occasions earlier this year.

During the arbitration hearing, the pupil testified that Lombaard taught her English this year, but was no longer her teacher. She told the council that they became closer in November 2024.